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Ambulatory Care Nurse Specialist - Career Profile |
Career OverviewIn medicine, the term, ambulatory care, refers to the diagnosis, observation, treatment and rehabilitation of patients served outside of a hospital or medical care facility. Ambulatory care is given on an outpatient basis, and includes such routine procedures as well-baby visits and general check-ups.
In nursing, ambulatory care is becoming increasingly unique, characterized as the "rapid, focused assessment of patients, long-term nurse/patient/family relationships, and teaching and translating prescriptions of are into doable activities for patients and their caregivers" (AAACN/ANA, 1997).
The sheer range of services provided by Ambulatory Care Nurses is presented and discussed by numerous sources. To meet demands on time and resources, ambulatory care nursing specialists work with patients seeking care for health promotion, health maintenance, and health related problems. They interact with patients, family members, significant others as caregivers and must develop the skills to interact with and teach various individuals to function as caregivers to patients. Ambulatory Care Nurses must also develop the ability to communicate face-to-face, via telephone, and via other communication mediums.
Flexibility and adaptability are extremely important qualities for ambulatory care nursing specialists, who must "focus on cost-effective ways to maximize wellness and to prevent illness, disability, and disease", and "support patients in management of chronic diseases, to affect more positive health states throughout the lifespan up to and including a peaceful death" .
Ambulatory care nurses, similar to adult care nurses, treat patients of all ages with acute or chronic illnesses, and injuries. Also similar to adult care specialist nurses, ambulatory care nurses perform treatments that include various diagnostic screenings, triage, and various forms of pain management.
Like most clinical specialist nurses, ambulatory care nurses also perform administrative tasks that include case management, discharge planning, and other interventions that benefit patient health and their experience at the hands of the health service.
Because of the general nature of their work, ambulatory care nurses work in various different outpatient venues, including general health care centers, community clinics, schools, workplaces, pain management centers, urgent care centers, and dialysis centers.
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Career RequirementsAmbulatory Care Specialist Nurses are required to train as Clinical Nursing Specialists prior to completing any advanced training in the field. They are required to have some advanced training in the nursing field. Most Clinical Nursing Specialists have advanced degrees. Approximately 93% of all CNSs have a Master's Degree or equivalent graduate certificate to compliment their training as an RN.
Ambulatory Care Specialists are required to have an active RN license and typically have a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing to have obtained this qualification.
Specialist training in ambulatory care is requirement for this profession, typically met by the practical experience of each candidate. Experience is focused on outpatient dealing, so experience is particularly crucial to ensuring that specialist nurses are able to provide quality diagnostic care and treatment to a range of patient that they may not have the opportunity to follow up with regularly.
Some institutions offer specialist training programs and certification in ambulatory care nursing. More information about training programs and certification is available through the following organization:
American Academy of Ambulatory Care Nursing
East Holly Ave., P.O. Box 56
Pitman, N.J. 08071-0056
(800) AMB-NURSE
Fax (609) 589-7463
www.aaacn.org
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Job OutlookThe job outlook for ambulatory care specialist nurses looks extremely positive looks particularly positive, especially in the context that nursing is one of the top 10 fastest growing professions in the United States.
Like most areas of nursing, ambulatory care is evolving. Physicians are pressured to treat patients faster to treat more patients is less time. The role of the ambulatory nurse is thus likely to expand as this demand is met and as financial pressures determine that fewer physicians are hired for general practice.
Ambulatory care specialist nurses are likely to take on more responsibilities to reduce the pressure on physicians without limiting the quality of patient care. The expertise of ambulatory care nurses is such that they are well equipped and prepared to take on these responsibilities.
The biggest challenge for ambulatory care nursing specialists in the future is likely to be related to the limitation of time. Care will be provided on an increasingly episodic basis to limit cost and to increase the number of patients treated within a given time period.
The particular expertise of Clinical Nursing Specialists who train to become Ambulatory Care Specialists will be in particular demand as these changes to the medical field take place over the next several years.
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Career TrackSee Clinical Nurse Specialist
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CompensationSee Clinical Nurse Specialist
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